Swiveling-deflector switching device

ABSTRACT

A switching device with a swiveling deflector for delivering goods to be transported from one of at least two delivery channels. The swiveling deflector is positioned at the free end of a leaf spring clamped into a bearing block. The force is introduced into the swiveling deflector, and the surface of the swiveling deflector has a predetermined curvature. The cross section of the swiveling deflector is tapered in the direction counter to the bearing block, and the bearing block has a horn-like shape. The bearing block and the swiveling deflector have respective concave and convex connecting regions in the bearing region of the leaf spring, and wherein the bearing block has a recess that extends along one region of the leaf spring, within which the leaf spring is freely movable during the swiveling movement.

The invention relates to a switching device in accordance with thepreamble of patent claim 1.

DE 41 03 849 has disclosed a swivel-out device which permits a rapid,stop-free swiveling operation without the need for damping stops at theend of the swiveling movement. This device has a coupling triangle inwhich two corners are arranged on the piston rods of actuatingcylinders, the casings of the actuating cylinders forming the fixedpoints for the swiveling movement of the coupling triangle. Dampingduring swiveling is obtained by the use of pneumatic cylinders.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a switching devicewith a swiveling deflector which permits a rapid, damped swivelingmovement of the swiveling deflector without the need for damping stopsat the end of the swiveling movement.

With the above object in view, the present invention resides in aswitching device with a swiveling deflector for delivering goods to betransported from one of at least two delivery channels, wherein theswiveling deflector is positioned at the free end of a leaf springclamped into a bearing block, wherein the force is introduced into theswiveling deflector, wherein the surface of the swiveling deflector hasa predetermined curvature and the cross section of the swivelingdeflector is tapered in the direction counter to the bearing block,wherein the bearing block has a horn-like shape, wherein the bearingblock and the swiveling deflector have respective concave and convexconnecting regions in the bearing region of the leaf spring, and whereinthe bearing block has a recess that extends along one region of the leafspring, within which the leaf spring is freely movable during theswiveling movement.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention can be taken from thesubclaims, the description and the attached drawings.

A particularly advantageous feature of the invention is that play-free,flexurally and torsionally rigid swivel-mounting of the swivelingdeflector is achieved in a manner such that a build-up of restoringforces takes place in the bearing when the swiveling deflector isrotated out of the central position in either direction. Attentionshould be drawn, in particular, to the fact that this has made possiblethe integration of the functions of "mounting" and "build-up ofrestoring forces".

It is advantageous if the force for executing a swiveling movement isintroduced by means of a fixing element which is arranged ridigly on theswiveling deflector and is connected to the piston rod of a movementcylinder.

Flexible kinetic dimensioning of the switching device is advantageouslyachieved by means of punched-out regions of the spring at certainpoints.

A particularly simple means of securing the leaf spring on the swivelingdeflector and in the bearing block is achieved by clamping the leafspring in each case into a slot.

In order to permit unhindered movement of the leaf spring over asufficiently wide range and to adjust the natural frequency of thesystem, it is advantageous to provide within the bearing block a recesswhich extends along one region of the leaf spring and within which theleaf spring is freely movable during the swiveling movement.

The switching device can be used to advantage in a conveying device fordischarging transported material from a delivery channel or, in a chutedevice, for discharging transported material into one of two dischargechannels.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention is described below withreference to drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a side view of a switching device according to theinvention and

FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of a switching device according to theinvention.

In FIG. 1, 1 denotes a swiveling deflector which is attached to abearing block 2. A leaf spring 3 is provided as a mounting, beingattached to the swiveling deflector on a first side 3a and to thebearing block on a second side situated opposite the first. The forcefor executing the swiveling movement is introduced directly into theswiveling deflector. This can be accomplished, in particular, byconnecting a fixing element 4, the said fixing element being rigidlyattached to the swiveling deflector, to the piston rod 5 of a movementcylinder 6. The fixing element 4 may, for example, be of essentiallystud-shaped design. A hinge head 7 is provided for the purpose ofconnection.

To provide more flexible dimensioning, the leaf spring 3 may haveregions 9 which are punched out at certain points.

In general, the switching device interacts with one or more delivery ordischarge channels, but these are not shown in the drawings. In order tomatch these channels and, furthermore, also the kinematics and dynamicsof the discharge operation, the surface of the swiveling deflector has apredetermined curvature which tapers in the opposite direction to thebearing block.

The bearing block can be given a horn-like shape, e.g. that of thecentral horn of a chute with two discharge channels.

In order to permit unhindered movement of the swiveling deflectorrelative to the bearing block, the swiveling deflector and the bearingblock have mutually assigned convex and concave connecting regions 1a,2a, respectively, in the region where the swiveling movement isinitiated.

The leaf spring may be attached to the bearing block and to theswiveling deflector in various ways. In particular, it may in each casebe screwed, bolted or encapsulated. Clamping the leaf spring into a slotin the swiveling deflector and in the bearing block, respectively, isparticularly advantageous.

In order to vary the natural frequency of the oscillatory systemcomprising leaf spring and swiveling deflector and adjust it inaccordance with the practical requirements of the application, thebearing block 2 has provided in it a recess 8 which extends along oneregion of the leaf spring 3 and within which the leaf spring 3 is freelymovable during the swiveling movement. This recess is matched to theamplitude of the movement impressed upon the system by the movementcylinder.

A movement of the piston rod 5 essentially parallel to the axis of themovement cylinder 6 imposes a swiveling movement on the swivelingdeflector 1. In the process, retarding restoring forces arise inaccordance with the deflection of the leaf spring from the position ofequilibrium. The achievable switchover time of the switching device isessentially determined by, and adjustable by, means of the mass of theswitch deflector, the spring force, the force of the movement cylinderand geometrical factors, in particular the linear design of the freelymovable leaf-spring region.

The use of a switching device according to the invention is advantageousin the case of a conveying device with a switching device fordischarging transported material from a delivery channel. For thepurpose of discharge, the swiveling deflector is swiveled into thedelivery channel, the transported material thus being deflected andmoved out of the delivery channel.

The switching device according to the invention can furthermore be usedin a chute device with an inlet region and a switching device fordischarging transported material into one of two discharge channels.Here, the bearing block is designed as a central horn which separatesthe two interchangeable channels.

The force for the swiveling movement of the swiveling deflector can alsobe introduced by subjecting the swiveling deflector in a suitable mannerto electric or magnetic fields.

I claim:
 1. A switching device with a swiveling deflector for deliveringgoods to be transported from one of at least two delivery channels, saidswiveling deflector being positioned at the free end of a leaf springclamped into a bearing block, the force being introduced into saidswiveling deflector, wherein the surface of said swiveling deflectorhaving a predetermined curvature and the cross section of said swivelingdeflector being tapered in the direction counter to said bearing block,said bearing block having a horn-like shape, said bearing block andswiveling deflector having respective concave and convex connectingregions in the bearing region of said leaf spring, said bearing blockhaving a recess that extends along one region of said leaf spring,within which the leaf spring is freely movable during the swivelingmovement.
 2. A device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixingelement at said swiveling deflector for receiving the forceintroduction, said fixing element being connected to the piston rod of amovement cylinder.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said leafspring has regions that are punched out at predetermined points.
 4. Adevice according to the claim 1, wherein said leaf spring has first andsecond sides which are clamped into a slot in said swiveling deflectorand a slot in said bearing block, respectively.
 5. A device according tothe claim 3, wherein said leaf spring has first and second sides whichare clamped into a slot in said swiveling deflector and a slot in saidbearing block, respectively.